UK

Fans may now bid for Front row Seats for Ricky Gervais on the 26th August at Edinburgh Castle

LONDON, June 12/PRNewswire/ -- Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy and Ticketmaster, the world's leading ticketing company, are working together to offer online Ticket Auctions with a portion of the proceeds of the sale benefiting the charity. The first auction is for Ricky Gervais at Edinburgh Castle on 26th August. Fans of Ricky Gervais now have the chance to bid for front row seats at Ticketmaster.co.uk until the auction closes on Monday 25th June at 4pm.    » read more »

05 June 2007 -- Leaders of the G8 group of major industrial nations are gathering in Germany's Baltic Sea resort of Heiligendamm for three days of discussions to include climate change, economic issues and debt relief for Africa. But differences were evident before the summit began and security was extremely tight to keep protesters away from the meeting site, as VOA's Sonja Pace reports from Heiligendamm.    » read more »

05 June 2007 -- Princess Diana's sons have asked a British television station not to air pictures of her fatal car crash during an upcoming documentary about their mother.

In a letter to the station (Channel 4 TV), Princes William and Harry said that showing the pictures would be a "gross disrespect" to their mother's memory.    » read more »

The Police Releases Greatest Hits Collection to Celebrate 30 Year Anniversary

04 June 2007 -- MTV is bringing back its acoustic performance series "Unplugged." New shows will feature the Police, Kenny Chesney, Mary J. Blige, John Mayer and Bon Jovi, who will kick off this year's series on June 22. Two other cable music channels, VH1 and CMT, will air edited versions of the "Unplugged" concerts on the two nights following MTV's broadcast.    » read more »

04 June 2007 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set Wednesday to host the annual summit of the G8 leading industrial democracies plus Russia. VOA's Barry Wood reports a recent sharp deterioration in western relations with Moscow is casting a chill over the meeting that will take place at a Baltic Sea resort in eastern Germany.    » read more »

30 May 2007 -- Russia's top prosecutor has dismissed a lawmaker's suggestion that the country engage in an extradition swap with Britain.

The lawmaker had proposed extraditing former intelligence agent Andrei Lugovoi, a suspect in the poisoning of a former Russian intelligence agent, in exchange for Boris Berezovsky, a business tycoon wanted by Moscow who has been living in exile in Britain.    » read more »

22 May 2007 -- Lawyers for veterans of Kenya's Mau Mau uprising of the 1950s say the British government has denied responsibility for colonial-era claims of torture and other atrocities.

At a news conference in Nairobi Tuesday, the lawyers presented a letter from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office rejecting the claim.

The letter argues the British government had no direct link to the colonial administration in Kenya at the time. The office also said too much time had passed to consider the claims.    » read more »

11 May 2007 -- New York is hosting a Climate Change Summit next week (May 14th to 17th). Leaders from the world's largest cities will discuss how to reduce pollution. London will likely be held up as a role model in cutting back carbon emissions. The British capital is on the forefront in fighting climate change.

London has declared war on climate change.    » read more »

12 May 2007 -- In London, Finance Minister Gordon Brown has launched his bid to lead the British government after Prime Minister Tony Blair steps down next month.

Mr. Blair, who also will resign as leader of the ruling Labor Party on June 27, said Friday he is delighted to support Brown's candidacy to succeed him at the end of June.

Brown has managed the British economy well, Mr. Blair says, adding that the 54-year-old Scot has the strength, judgment and experience to make a great prime minister.    » read more »

The State Visit in Honor of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh

May 7, 2007 -- President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush are honored to host Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh on Monday, May 7, 2007.

The United States has no closer ally and friend than Great Britain. Our nations share an exceptionally close relationship based on deep historical and cultural ties, a common language, shared values and interests, and a commitment to defend freedom around the world.    » read more »

06 May 2007 -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip have arrived in Washington in advance of a day of ceremony at the White House.

The royal couple landed Sunday evening local time at Andrews Air Force base near Washington.

Monday President Bush will greet the Queen at an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. After a 21 gun salute in her honor, the Queen and Mr. Bush will review troops and make remarks to the press.    » read more »

Public celebration at Capitol Square will be the place to see Her Majesty and be a part of history

May 1, 2007 -- RICHMOND – On May 3, Richmond, Virginia will be the first American city to officially welcome Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, II in sixteen years. Public excitement is high, with over 270,000 views of Virginia’s official Royal visit Web site in just seven days.

The Queen’s historic visit to the State Capitol in Richmond will be the place to be for all those hoping to see The Queen.    » read more »